This morning the first session of the chapter came to a close with a series of votes on various proposals (such as financial issues, the running of the international Office of Development, and the date of the follow-up session of the chapter to be held from July 5-9) and the election of the delegates to the General Chapter (delegates: John Franck, Bernard Holzer; alternates: Miguel Diaz Ayllon, Dennis Gallagher). The members of the Chapter also drafted a letter from all religious and lay participants concerning their experience at the Chapter and their wishes for future collaboration and development of the lay-religious covenant. The morning ended with an evaluation of the session. Overall, participants were quite pleased with the experience: with the fraternal, open and honest climate; the pleasant setting; the presence of new brothers; the substantial and broad discussions; the life of prayer and the rhythm of the schedule; the presence and presentations of lay partners; Fr. Richard's presence and contributions. However, there were some areas of concern: the need for more small group discussion, a more timely way to receive documents before the chapter, and more sensitivity to the question of simultaneous translation, to name a few.

New Year ’s Day was no holiday for the Chapter members, who worked from 9am until 6pm, but then celebrated the beginning of the year with a festive meal lovingly prepared by the sisters who have been receiving us in their Spiritual Life Center here in Putnam, CT.

Before the provincial chapter turned its attention in the afternoon to one of the major topics on the agenda of the General Chapter in May, namely community organization (or congregational restructuring), in the morning members listened to the remaining reports from various regions and provincial concerns: finances, formation, the Region of the United States, the Region of Canada, and the Lay/Religious Alliance.

Well, there weren’t any real fireworks at the Chapter meeting today, but it was nonetheless a lively full day of discussion that covered a variety of topics. The final reports were presented, by the US and Quebec Regions and by the Provincial Formator. And proposals were made by the Provincial Treasurer and by the lay people present since the beginning of the Chapter. The lively discussions focused on these proposals, but on broader questions like how to insure that the work being done in the various Regions is truly part of a Provincial project, on how to coordinate and promote development efforts in the entire Province (in particular, in relation with the Congregation’s development office), etc.